the practical difference between a reflector head and optic head

umberto

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Sep 26, 2007
Messages
80
could someone explain to this newbie here the difference between a flashlight that uses a reflector and one that instead uses an optical lens....in terms of advantages/disadvantages



thanks
 

Gunner12

Flashaholic
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
10,063
Location
Bay Area, CA
The optic looses the least light, most are around 80-90% efficiency while reflector are around 65-80% efficient.

Usually a optic give you a hotspot with no spill, meaning if you are lighting up a tree 100 ft ahead, you could see the three clearly but you can't see what's on the ground between the tree and you.

A reflector give you a spill beam and with the same example as above you could see the ground between the tree and you without having to move the light so the hotspot shines on the ground.

Example beamshots
, as you can see, the aspheric mod has lots of throw(most lights don't even come close) but it would be practically useless in a wooded environment because you would not be able to see the stick that is about to poke you in the eye.
 
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